80% of Tunisia's marine waste comes from land

Tunisia faces a significant challenge with marine pollution, as approximately 80% of the debris reaching its seas originates from land, stated Aouatef Arbi, the interim Director General of Environment and Quality of Life at the Ministry of Environment. This declaration coincided with World Environment Day.

During an event on Gammarth beach themed "Let's Act for a Plastic-Free Coastline," Arbi highlighted that plastic waste overwhelmingly dominates the pollution observed along Tunisia's coasts, with single-use products being a major contributor. According to monitoring operations conducted with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF North Africa), 77% of the waste found on studied beaches consists of plastic. These studies also revealed an average of 9.5 kilograms of plastic waste per kilometer of coastline.

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Plastic waste largely dominates the pollution observed on the Tunisian coasts, especially single-use products.

The ministry has identified several priority zones grappling with substantial plastic waste influxes, including Djerba, Kerkennah, and Monastir. In these areas, initiatives are being implemented to curb plastic consumption and safeguard coastal ecosystems. A specific study in Monastir indicated an accumulation of 317 kilograms of plastic waste following certain sporting events.

Arbi also issued a warning regarding the escalating risks associated with microplastics, which pose threats to both the environment and human health. The ministry is planning to install waste containment devices in riverbeds to intercept debris before it reaches the sea. Efforts are also continuing to limit the use of single-use plastics within the tourism and port sectors.

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77% of the waste recorded on the beaches studied is plastic.